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Please help--prep for sigmoidoscopy

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/19/2008 6:35 PM (GMT -7)
I get to have a lovely sigmoidoscopy Tuesday to determine why I keep bleeding and lately have those terrible cramps back.

I just picked up my "prep bag" tonight and I have two dulcolax pills to take Monday and then two ENEMAS to take Tuesday.  I am to have a broth/light liquid diet both days.  I am to take the enemas back to back only 1/2 hour to 1 hour prior to the test. 

The enemas SCARE me.  I am worried I won't be able to use them right, clean myself out for a good test AND that I'll lose the first one after inserting the second.  Also, am I going to do this on the bed, in the bath???  Will I have urgency to go like I did from golytely? 

One more worry--my test site is 45 minutes from the house.  I think I should do the enemas much sooner than 1/2 to an hour before.

Help!!  I am a nervous wreck and want a good, clean test!!

Posted 3/19/2008 7:12 PM (GMT -7)
Having been through countless colonoscopies and "sig's", a sigmoidoscopy is not an scary as it's made out to be.
Firstly, it generally uses less of the scope and therefore can be shorter and easier than a full colonoscopy.

Enemas can't get lost, theres nowhere for them to go! Once they're in there, the bodies natural reaction is to want to get it out. Using a second one just increases the feelining that you've got to "go."
bathroom floor is prob the best place to do it, easy to clean up, close to facilities....etc
Find a comf. position, read the instructions and experiment with what feels best for you.
***a reccomended tip from someone on the site - maybe use some extra vaseline onthe tip to ease insertion and heat up the bottle with a heating pad or under your arm for a few minutes, so the liquid is warm and comfy....***

Ask your doc abt the timing. he may be fine with you taking it before the drive, its abt a basic flushing out, not removing every minute trace...
relax, if you follow the dr's instrucuctions, there isnt much that can go wrong.

good luck - let us knwo how it went!
Posted 3/19/2008 8:03 PM (GMT -7)
For a sigmoid I've only ever had to do the rectal prep (fleet enema) was never asked to take any oral prep, wonder why your doc wants you to take the dulcolax too.

There shouldn't be any need to do the enemas much sooner than what you were told, enemas take effect fairly immediately unlike oral preps...enemas purpose is to clear out the sigmoid colon and rectom area.

:)
Posted 3/20/2008 5:43 AM (GMT -7)
Also, at least it happens to me, is that when you use the Fleet enemas you might experience a little burn in the rectal area. If you are flaring and things are tender in there, the enemas might hurt a bit. I found the first one wasn't too hard to retain but the second one was harder. It wanted to come out almost immediately and I couldn't even finish the second one. Cleaned me out enough though. The sig doesn't go that high anyway and a good "rinse" is all that is needed. Not sure either why the doc is having you use Dulcolax.

But with the first enema, you will "purge" before inserting the second. Good luck :)
Posted 3/20/2008 10:25 AM (GMT -7)
The first few exams, when really badly sick, I thought something was really was wrong...The enema directions and dr said hold in for 5-10 minutes....I could barely do it for 10 seconds! I was so freaked. I realize now it was because it was in a bad state then.....

That's ok, it just needs to be in there to cleanse out
Posted 3/20/2008 4:33 PM (GMT -7)
It sounds like your doctor expects to find solid stool blocking his/her way with scope-- why else would you be told to take Dulcolax in addition to the 2 liquid enemas? I can understand your feeling "freaked-out"! I also agree with Red_34 that you're likely to feel irritation from the Fleets if you have active UC inflammation down there. The safest purge is a tepid water enema that you use 'til what empties out of you is clear fluid. Problem these days is that it's hard to find the equipment for that; drugstores used to sell enema bags as commonly as ice packs, but that's no longer the case. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)
Posted 3/20/2008 5:31 PM (GMT -7)
Thanks everyone for your responses! I have some direction, now, rather than just the paper in the bag-o-prep.

I never thought I'd say this, but I wish I could just drink the yucky golytely and get it over with.

Old Hat--it makes sense what you said about the solid stool. In January I had told the GI I was getting constipated and haven't had that much since I started using the canasa, but maybe he thinks there may be more to this. ???

:) , Pb4 and Red_34--it sounds like you all are saying that the enema will cause my body to want to release quickly and not delayed like the golytely. Have I got that right?

Thanks again! I will keep you posted and hopefully it will help the next person like you all have helped me!
Posted 3/20/2008 5:35 PM (GMT -7)
Yup, it works much quicker because of the end you're prepping...fleet enemas are convenient for those with severe constipation which is why it's designed to work so quickly...stay close to the can, do the prep in the bathroom layind down on your side and hold it in as long as you can, which is the hardest part of it all.

:)
Posted 3/20/2008 9:49 PM (GMT -7)
Yup, the enema is administered right there, right where the "backup" is. It goes in and stimulates whatever is there to evacuate the scene. I think it's pretty cool, how it works so fast. In a matter of seconds.
Like pb4 said, the hardest part is attempting to hold it in. Good luck and don't worry abt that - it's a great feeling after it's all finished :P
Posted 3/20/2008 10:38 PM (GMT -7)
I would do the enemas on occassion if I had something important to attend to (an outting or such that could not be missed)...it's a gross feeling holding it in, it's hard enough to do with having this DD, let alone inducing the feeling with the enema.

Good luck!!

:)
Posted 3/20/2008 11:29 PM (GMT -7)
pb4 - i agree. Though it's a little easier psychologically to know that it's only an enema that will be exiting and not an attack of something else...
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